While the Family here at T.U.M.S. continue to express our heartfelt gratitude & Prayers to The Jackson Family & there’s, Many of us had some thoughts to share about the Memorial held 7/7/09 in honor of the Greatest Entertainer of All Time – Michael Jackson. Marvin D. expressed his thoughts about the widely televised event…

The Michael Jackson Memorial Service yesterday was more than just a memorial. 
It was more than just a celebration. It was a history lesson. 

As guests got up on stage to tell stories of their encounters with Michael, you got
the sense of how human he was. And that still applies today. As I was once 
intimidated by meeting superstars, now I can simply say "Hi, how are you?"
and start a conversation. Artists are human too. 

Michael has changed the world through his music, his humanitarian efforts and 
still today there are people trying to dog him out. Sheila Jackson Lee 
pointed that out by saying "The Constitution states you are innocent till proven 
guilty", which was pointed to a certain GOP representative. Jermaine 
Jackson who sang Michael's favorite song "Smile", while Usher struggled 
to get through Gone Too Soon. He did a beautiful job. Rev. Al Sharpton spoke so 
eloquently by saying "Thank you Michael for opening doors, where doors 
wouldn't open...", and addressing Michael's children with a quote that will 
resonate for years to come: "I want his children to know there was 
nothing strange about your Daddy, it was strange what your Daddy had to 
deal with...".

As for John Mayer, for whom I've seen on other television shows, I really didn't 
pay that much attention to him. Well, after yesterday, "I am a fan".  I 
am sure he made new fans with his acoustic version of Human Nature; 
Brooke Shields talked about being an adult while still kids, and Magic 
Johnson eating Kentucky Fried Chicken with Michael had us on the floor. 
Shaheen Jabflorski, the finalist on the British show "Britain's Got Talent" came out 
and sang Who's Loving You. At first I thought it might have been one of the 
Jackson kids. 

I must applaud Kenny Ortega of AEG for putting together a 
very good memorial service at the Staples Center. It was well organized. 
From the beginning - at Forest Lawn Cemetery, the procession literally 
stopped traffic on the other side of the highway (they closed the highway 
from Forest Lawn to the Staples Center), side streets, everywhere......to the scenes 
illuminating the arena. 

I lost all my manliness when Michaels' daughter spoke (I admit it, I cried like 
a baby, and you'd be lying to, if you didn't). At that point, the focus 
from now on will be the children and their welfare.

All and all, Michael made me realize (not necessarily through his music) 
that no matter who you are, what color you are, what your culture is, or 
whatever, you are a human being and you should be treated as such. 
Michael has opened so many doors in the past 40 years or so, that he has literally 
changed the face of music. At some point, he was ahead of his time. All 
Michael wanted to do was to be able to walk across the street, go to the 
grocery store, play with his kids, just be normal (hence the song 
"Childhood"). Like me, like you. And not be mobbed by fans or have to 
wear a disguise just to go to there. He just wanted to be normal. 
To the outside world looking in, he wasn't. But to those who 
knew him, he was. Michael's legacy will continue through his music: Past, 
Present and Future.

He will live on forever.

Marv D. 
The Urban Music Scene